The State Department has approved the $3 billion sale of a medium-range missile defense system to Kuwait.

The move paves the way for Kuwait to receive the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS. The weapon is produced by a joint venture between U.S. Raytheon Technologies and Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, though Raytheon is the main contractor for the sale. The U.S. itself uses NASAMS to protect the airspace above the White House and the Pentagon.

Hungary and India have also purchased NASAMS in recent years to protect their territories.